ONE MONTH LATER
I wiped my mouth after puking for the fourth time that morning and threw the piece of plastic that changed my life into the trash. Maybe I should call Austin.
"Hello?" He picked up on the first ring.
"Hey." I said hoarsely, biting my lip.
"What's wrong?" He asked automatically.
"Um, are you home?" I asked.
"Yeah. . . What's up?"
"I'll be there in five." I hung up and wiped my eyes, stomach churning.
**
"You look like hell. What's wrong?" Austin repeated as soon as I showed up at his house.
I sat down at the table and tried as hard as I could not to cry yet. "You should sit down."
"Baby, you're worrying me. Please tell me." He said softy, sitting beside me and taking my hand.
"Don't hate me. Please don't hate me." I said, wiping the tears that had started falling.
"Look at me. There is nothing you could do that could make me hate you. There is nothing you could do that could make me stop loving you." He said. I stared at him. He'd never said that before. "I love you, okay? Just know that. Now spit it out, Ave."
"I've been feeling a bit out of it lately. I've thrown up a lot and my stomach's been upset and I. . ." I couldn't go on anymore. My voice was too thick.
"And. . ." Austin said gently.
"I took a pregnancy test. And it came out positive." I said finally.
Austin did the craziest thing. He smiled. "You're pregnant?"
"That's what it looks like." I said softly.
"And it's mine?" He asked. I glared at him and he nodded. "Of course it is. But how? We always used-"
"Things break." I said shortly. He was really leaving me out on a limb here. "You're not angry with me?"
"Of course not. I'm stoked." He grinned, looking down at my tummy. "Do you have any idea how far along you are?"
"Maybe a month. I'm not showing much. I'll have to go to the doctor and all that." I said, smiling gently. "You're happy? Honestly?"
"I don't think I've ever been happier. Ave. . . You do realize that this baby might have Marfan's?" He asked suddenly, his smile fading.
"If it does, we'll get him or her diagnosed as soon as they're born and they'll be able to treat it. Don't worry. Everything's going to be fine." I promised.
"Wow. I'm going to be a daddy." Austin said, amazed. "I love you so much."
"And you have no idea how much I love you." I smiled.
"But. . . You're a model, Ave. You won't be able to work for a long time." He said. "But that's okay, because you have me. There's no way I'm going on tour anytime soon. No fucking way. And you'll have to move in here, but that's okay because you practically live here anyways. And we'll paint a nursery and- Do you want to get married?"
"Woah, slow down." I laughed. "Austin, I love you and you know it. You love me and I know it. Who cares what a piece of paper says?"
"You don't want to be the new Mrs Carlile?" He frowned.
"As far as I'm concerned, I already am. All anyone's going to say is that we're getting married because you knocked me up and that's not what I want because it's not true. All in good time, okay?" I asked.
"Okay, Ave. Whatever you want. I want to tell everyone. I'm going to be a dad! Wow. I'm so excited." He said all in a rush.

Notes

yo yo yo plot twist